Direction signaling device



JIme 22, 1954 E. L.BARCUS DIRECTION SIGNALING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Dec. 7, 1949 I Gttotnegs June 22, 1954 1 v E. L. BARCUS 2,681,956

DIRECTION SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ihwcutor Patented June 22 1954 E115 PATE'NT OFFICE.

".iDIRECTlQNT SIGNABING DEVICE axEdwardi L.) Barons; Anderson, Ind., 'assignor to 'Generalg MotorsQnrporation, Detroit, Mich, a

- corporatiomofqDelaware "Application December 7, 1949; Serial No. 131,606

- 4 Claims. 1

* "nai ing devices for automotive vehicles and more particularly to signaling' devices ofthe type dis- "closed; in the U. S; Patent No. 2 593340 -Sampson, assigned tothe assignee of the present invention.

""movement of the steering wheel.

'si na inefisr m- (Cl. ZOO-61.

threaded member zfiwhich also serves'tasecure a housing cap- 28150 the housingas shown.

To effect automatic. return of the operating member It to its neutral position from eithervof its operating positions, a friction roller 30 is' provided in the housing. Therollercomprisesa hub Theob-ject--o-f the inventionis to provide an 32 mounted on a bushing journal 34 which'eximproved signaling device adapted to be manually tends outwardly of the hub. Mounte-d" on thehub "set to energize a; signaling circuit and automati- 32 is an annular ring 36 of suitableresilient mw cal'ly reset: to a neutral"' position byoperation of '10 terial such, for example, as; rubber or=:theflike. the steering m'echanismafterthe steering mech- The rubber ring is secured on thexhilb bY a anism has-been==returned "to a substantially washer 38 which is attached to thehu'b by straight directional 'patlr for'the' vehicle. spreading a portion of the hub over thewasher,

This and other-objects are attainedin accordasshown. To effect suitable-frictional engageance with thepresent-invention by'providing a ment between the hub-32 and ring 3 3 to: prevent .signalingdevice includingan electrical switch slippage therebetween, the hu b32 is provided having means adapted unon manual operation with an inwardly extending axial'fiange lll which of the device'to lock the switch in a circuiten-erseats in a cooper annular 118688942 inzthe gizing; position and; unlock the switch for return rubber ring. tor a neutralpcsition 'in response to" a rotary The friction roller 30 ismounted for rotatio on a pin it-extending upwardly fro-ma pivot plate For a better understanding of the invention 4%: having its lower .end recessed inasl'ot 48 reference-may be had"to-theaocompanying drawformed in-the housing 2. I As shown,:the roller-:30 ingsinwhichi'Figure, 1; is auplan'viewof the sigis po tioned so that the upp end of fi "n'aling' devicemountedon t-hesteeringcolumn of ing journal Iii-en a s & m -"p .agvehiclewithgthe cover removed; Figure 2"isan cu d 0 e cam Segment l8 =by any-suitable elevational View. in crossfisecti'on. of the device na f mpl v *The' min p e mounted. on the" steering column adjacent; the 50 m y be formed fa m i p d beh steering wheel of a vehiclegTigure 2a is'a, longitreated to provide a. hard wearing surface for-ten "tudinal; sectional view'of the switch taken; along gaging the bushingjournal is provi ded with line zafiza of Fig. I; "Figur 3- is an exploded a camming recess- 52 The outwardly extending perspectiveview, of theelectrical switcher the deportion h b hin j l- 3 is y lii nsly 'vice' andj'Figure 4 is a diagrammaticview of" the g d into Engagement thh ca-m'minglplate 50 by aspring zi l which has oneendconneeted to Referring now to the drawin s and-parti ularl an ear 56 pressed outwardly from the pivotvplate togFigures 1 and 2 thereiscillustrated a. signaling and the other end connected.- to a fiange device embodying the present'invention in which tending inwa y f o fii -hous ng-z. "the operating'mechanism is enclosed in a h us- Positioned within the housing 2 with its: 0p-

ing Iadapted to be attached to the steering colerating arm 60 recessed'in a slot fiz-for-med in the 'umn 4 adi acentthesteeringwheel BiOfi-an auto-- Operating embe I-E an electrical switchIJ-M -m ti hi l Thehousing 2'1 f rmed ith am such as that disclosed in my application; Serial integral split ring; clamp consisting of'the yoke 123,036, d c b r 1949; d ssigned member 8'to which there is attach'eotaeooperatto the assignee of the plese t pp 31 ing clamping arm lfl'hinged" at 1-21 his form switch E l-is secured in the housing 2 by thneaded of housing isrea di'ly attachable. to the steering members and is f 1 actingyp hi 69 11111 f 8 V by swin ing the; arm; is ooperates with the mechanism tod-mpartdesiraoutwardly, placing thev yorker/in engagement with ble characteristics to the operation of: thex'd'i-recthelsu'rface of 'thesteering column and thereafter 131011 Signal Sy n ectrical cable s-t havin l i th h i t th steering-column t terminal leads F0 for connection to the switch a; threaded'member 1,4; as shown. Positioned 64 s r u ht into the h usineth us -ap "Within the housing 'is a: die cast operating memi 72 and c p y a C p g member-14 bet lBcomprisi-ng a'cam'segment l8-, a hub-2 wand secured to the housing by a threaded member 1 6. an operating-"lever 2-2- which extends outwardly To provide a visual indication of the operating crane housing through-anopening-242 Theo-pcondition of. the system a pilot lamp i secured emi'ing .lever-- l B--is rotatablymountedion-a pantly in the housing cap wbycametal clip 1332. attached lamps.

-a conductor I nected through a conductor I I6 to an input ter- .terrupting device flasher and used extensively in direction signal systems for vehicles.

to the inner surface of the cap by any suitable means. The clip I8 is adapted to secure a bulb socket 80 in a position under an aperture covered with a colored window, not shown. The colored window is adapted to transmit light from the enclosed lamp bulb to the eye of the operator.

To provide a suitable ground connection between the housing and the steering column, a spring clip 82 is provided. The clip 82 slips over the edge of the housing 2 firmly engaging the edge and has outturned edges which bite through the paint covering on the steering column and into the metal for an electrical ground contact.

The switch 54 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 2a and 3 and comprises a housing 84 enclosed by a terminal plate 86 secured thereto by ears 85. The terminal plate carries a plurality of spaced contact terminals. Secured to the housing 84 is a bracket member 90 provided with apertures 9| for securing a switch in the housing member 2. As shown, the housing 84 has a rectangular opening 92 and the bracket member 90 has an oblong opening '94 coinciding therewith but of substantially less length. When the bracket member 90 is secured to the housing 84 there are formed recessed ledges 99 adjacent the opening 94.

Slidably mounted within the housing 84 are a pair of blocks 98 and 99 of insulating material which are yieldingly urged by a spring I to extreme positions in the housing. Triangularly shaped contact bridging members I02 and I03 are carried respectively by the underside of blocks 98 and 99 and yieldingly urged into engagement with the contact terminals. are carried by the upper side of the blocks 98 and the ends of the arms are likewise yieldingly urged into engagement with the wall surface of housing 84 and in the operative position of the blocks 98 and 99 are urged into recesses 96 to hold the blocks in one of the operative signaling positions. A bridge I06 spans the two blocks 98 and 99 and has downturned ears I08 which are recessed in slots H0 in blocks 98 and 99. An operating arm 60 is attached to the bridge and extends through the aperture 94. In the operative position of the switch in the housing 2 the arm 60 extends into the recess 62 in the operating member I6.

To provide visual indication of the direction of turn contemplated by the operator of a vehicle the contact terminals of switch 64 are connected in a plurality of circuits of a signaling system including left and right front and rear signaling ings the system comprises a battery II2 which has one terminal connected to ground through H4 and the other terminal conminal II8 of a thermally controlled current in- H9 commonly known as a Such devices are adapted to intermittently make and break current carrying circuits in which the flasher forms a part of the circuit.

The battery I I2 is also connected through conductor II6, switch I20, conductors I22 and I24 to the outer contact terminals I25 and. I33 of the switch terminal plate 86. The contact terminals I2! and I3I immediately adjacent contact terminals I25 and I33 are connected respectively by conductors I26 and I 23 and the filaments of the right and left rear signaling lamps to ground. One of the output terminals I30 of Ratchet arms I04 -I As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawthe flasher I I9 is connected through conductor I32 and the filament of the pilot lamp I34 to ground. The other output terminal I36 of the flasher H9 is connected through conductor I38 to the contact terminal I 29. The remaining contact terminals I and I31 of the switch I64 are connected respectively through conductors I40 and I42 and the filaments of the left and right front signaling lamps to ground.

In the operation of the signaling device hereinabove described a counterclockwise rotation of the operating member I6 to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1 forces the bushing journal 34 out of the camming recess 52 against the pressure of spring 54 and into engagement with the adjacent surface of the camming plate \50. Simultaneously the peripheral edge of the roller 30 is forced into engagement with the hub of steering wheel 6 and the operating arm of the switch 64 is moved causing the block 99 and contact bridging member I03 to shift in the switch housing 84 against the pressure of spring I00 to a position where the contact bridging member I03 bridges contact terminals I21, I29 and I35. Movement of block 99 to its contact bridging position causes the ratchet arm I04 carried thereby to engage its cooperating recessed ledge 96 and locks the block 99 and contact bridging member I03 in this position. In this position current is carried from the battery II2 through conductor II6, flasher II9, conductor I38, contact terminal I29, contact bridging member I03, terminals I21 and I35 and conductors I26 and I40 to the filaments of the left front and rear signaling lamps of the vehicle. With this circuit arrangement the operation of the flasher II9 causes an intermittent flashing of the left front and rear signaling lamps providing a visual indication of the operator's intention to make a left turn. At the same time with the block 98 and contact bridging member I02 of switch 64 remaining in its normal position of bridging contacts I3I and I33 an indication of an intention to stop may be conveyed rearwardly of the vehicle by application of the brake pedal which being linked to switch I20 causes its closure and energizing of a circuit from the battery II2 through conductor II6, switch I20, conductor I22, contact terminal I25, conductor I24, contact terminal I33, contact bridging member I02, contact terminal I3I and conductor I28 to the right rear lamp. As the circuit through the switch I20 bypasses the flasher the right rear lamp is energized with a steady flow of current. With the intermittent operation of the flasher in the circuit of the left front and rear signaling lamps the pilot lamp is likewise intermittently energized through the flasher conductor I32, and the filament of the lamp bulb I34 to ground. The intermittent operation of the pilot lamp provides a signal indication to the operator indicating that the circuits to the signaling lamps are complete and that the signaling lamps are operating to provide a signal.

With the rotation of the steering wheel 6 in a counterclockwise direction to make a left turn, the rotation of the wheel 8 causes a clockwise rotation of roller 30 and bushing journal 44 on the engaged surface of the camming plate 50. As the operating member I6 is in its extreme counterclockwise operating position, the clockwise rotation of roller 30 causes the bushing journal 34 to slip on the engaged cam face without imparting movement to the operating member. Upon reversal of the direction of the steering wheel 8 to straighten the path of the vehicle the direction of rotation of the roller is likewise reversed and the frictional engagement between the bushing journal 34 and cam plate 50 causes the operating member to be returned to its neutral position whereupon bushing journal 34 is forced into recess 52 disengaging the periphery of roller 30 from the hub of steering wheel 6. During the return movement of the operating member I6 it simultaneously causes the operating arm 90 of switch 64 to return to its neutral position. The operating arm 60 being attached to bridge I06 causes the bridge to slide over ratchet arm I04 carried by block 99 gradually depressing the end of the ratchet arm from engagement with its cooperating recessed ledge 90 until the end of the ratchet arm is cleared. The force of spring I00 thereafter causes the block 99 and bridging contact I03 to be returned to its extreme position in the housing with a snap action.

From the description of the operation of a left turn signal it will be obvious that to provide a right turn signal movement of the operating member I 6 will be clockwise shifting block 98 and contact bridging member I02 of switch 64 to bridge contact terminals I29, I3I and I31 thereby providing a closed circuit from the battery to the filaments of the right front and rear indicating lamps causing intermittent operation of these lamps.

Operation of the brake pedal and simultaneous closure of switch I20 when the operating member is in its neutral position provides for continuous energization of the left and right rear lamps by forming a current carrying path from the battery II2 through conductor H0, switch I20, conductor I22 and conductor I24 to contact terminals 125 and I33, contact bridging members I02 and I03 contact terminals I21 and I3I and conductors I26 and I28 to the rear signaling lamps.

A signaling device such as hereinabove described is particularly desirable since the ratchet locking mechanism of the electrical switch permits rotation of the steering wheel through an arc of substantially 95 to return the vehicle to substantially a straight directional path before the right or left terminal signaling circuits are deenergized. The practical advantage of such a device is a signal indication throughout substantially the complete turn of the vehicle.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A direction signaling device comprising a housing, a plate pivotally mounted in said housing, a friction wheel mounted for rotation on said plate, said wheel having an axially extending portion secured thereto, an operating member rotatably mounted in said housing, said member having a cam segment for engaging said axially extending portion and shifting the position of said wheel in said housing, a spring engaging said plate in said housing to yieldingly urge said axially extending portion into engagement with said cam segment and a switch mounted in said housing with its operating arm engaging said operating member.

2. A direction signaling device comprising a housing, an operating member mounted for rotary movement in said housing, said operating mem ber being provided with a cam segment, a switch mounted in said housing with its operating arm in. engagement with said operating member, a plate mounted for pivotal movement in said housing, said plate having a pin extending therefrom, a friction wheel rotatably mounted on. said pin, said wheel having an axially extending portion provided thereon for engaging said cam segment and a spring having its ends attached to said plate and said housing for yieldingly urging said axially extending portion into engagement with said cam segment.

3. A direction signaling device comprising a housing, an operating member mounted for rotary movement in said housing, said operating member being provided with a cam segment having a recessed portion therein, a pivot plate pivotally mounted in said housing, said pivot plate having a pin extending therefrom, a roller mounted for rotation on said pin, said roller comprising a hub, a journal bushing mounted in said hub and a ring of friction material mounted on said hub, said journal bushing having an axially extending portion, a spring attached between said pivot plate and said housing for yieldingly urging said axially extending portion into engagement with said cam segment and a switch mounted in said housing with its operating arm in engagement with said cam segment.

4. In an automotive vehicle having a rotatable steering wheel and a stationary support adjacent said wheel in combination, a turn signal device comprising a housing mounted on said support, a plate mounted for pivotal movement in said housing, a friction roller mounted for rotation on said plate, said roller having an axially extending portion secured thereto, an o erating member rotatably mounted in said housing for moving said roller into engagement with said wheel, said operating member having a cam segment engaging said axially extending portion,-

said cam segment having a recess therein for receiving said axially extending portion to disengage said roller from said wheel, a spring engaging said plate and said housing and yieldingly urging said axially extending portion into engagement with said cam segment and a switch mounted in said housing with its operating arm engaging said operating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,973,299 Swartwout Sept. 11, 1934 1,981,671 Schmitt Nov. 20-, 1934 2,034,414 Pagendarm Mar. 17, 1936 2,040,923 Doane May 19, 1936 2,068,632 Stites Jan. 19, 1937 2,111,931 Howard Mar. 22, 1938 2,207,114 Bruderick July 9, 1940 2,308,108 Roedding Jan. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 84.370 Sweden Sept. 17, 1935 

